International Men’s Day in America

International Men’s Day in America

UNITED STATES
In February 1994 an “IMD” gathering was initiated by individuals in Kansas City, but this initiative was not continued in following years. In 2001 a number of organizations in the United States are said to have joined in celebrating IMD on 19th November (2001 CBTT source), though there are no records of the event being observed after this date.
In 2008 the idea of holding International Men’s Day was supported by the Malachi Global Foundation (MGF) in Michigan, and U.S. author and speaker Diane Sears spoke of the event reminding that United States President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg address on November 19 (1863) calling for the honoring of the contributions of those men who gave the ultimate sacrifice – their lives – during America’s Civil War. Sears suggests that as International Men’s Day also falls on November 19 it is a time we too may remember of the contributions and sacrifices men make for society today.

If you or your organization intend to observe IMD in 2009 let us know about your plans and we will place them on this page.
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International Men’s Day U.S.A. 2009
IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD(R) TO PUBLISH TRIBUTES TO POSITIVE MALE ROLE MODELS IN OBSERVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL MEN’S DAY 2009

PHILADELPHIA, PA (USA) — 7 NOVEMBER 2009 — IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD(R), an international quarterly male parenting journal which has since 15 October 1999, facilitated and moderated a Global Dialogue on Fatherhood recently announced that it will observe International Men’s Day 2009 by publishing on its blog at http://globalfatherhooddialogue.blogspot.com essays, articles, and poems it receives which illustrate the theme of “Positive Male Role Models” which has been selected for this year’s worldwide observance of International Men’s Day.

“IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD(R) is honored to be a part of the worldwide observation of International Men’s Day for which the theme of ‘Positive Male Role Models’ has been selected. We all have had at least one positive male role model in our lives. Positive male role models can be found everywhere throughout our Global Village. We are providing everyone from all Walks of Life throughout our global village with an opportunity to celebrate, honor, and thank the positive role models that have positively influenced their lives. Tell us about the positive male role model in your life. Send your essays, articles, and poems to IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD(R) and we will publish them on our blog,” Diane A. Sears, Managing Editor for IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD(R) remarked.

Celebrate INTERNATIONAL MEN’S DAY 2009! Celebrate and honor a positive male role model who has made a difference in your life. Send your essays, articles, and poems to IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD(R) by e-mail to: insearchoffatherhood@gmail.com. Your essays, articles, and poems will be published on IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD(R)’s blog at http://globalfatherhooddialogue.blogspot.com.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Philadelphia Tribune published the following article on November 18, 2009:

International Men’s Day celebrates fathers, role models
Written by Nathaniel Lee Wednesday, 18 November 2009 15:28
International Men’s Day will be observed around the world Thursday. Unfortunately, few American men, and perhaps even fewer women, have heard of the event first inaugurated in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999 to pay tribute to positive role models.

The purpose of the observance is to focus on Men’s and boy’s health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality and highlighting positive male role models. Nations as far away as Jamaica, Australia, India, South Africa and the United Kingdom, to name just a few, have recognized the observance.

… “Its a very important activity,” said Derrick Johnson of West Philadelphia. “It’s important for males to have a program like this, particularly [for] Black males; we are definitely left out.

Supporters of International Men’s Day are quick to point out that they are in no way advocating a day of recognition for men as a means of overshadowing the tributes, observances and accomplishments of women.

In fact, quite the contrary, organizers emphasize the need for healthy relationships between the sexes and name as one of their objectives as to discuss ways to improve gender equality.

Although there are 107 males born for 100 females, men are still more likely to die from heart disease as well as most other common causes of death than their female counterparts.

In the United States men are 10 times more likely to be the victims of homicide than women and are more than twice as likely to commit suicide, according to the holiday’s organizers. The health of men is therefore a key issue of International Men’s Day worldwide.

Yet it is also a celebration of the estimated 140,000 stay-at-home fathers who care for their homes, those who defend the nation, protect their homes and sacrifice themselves for others. International Men’s Day, unlike Fathers Day, celebrates both boys and men; fathers and the fatherless.

Sounds like a good concept because they are trying to break down the barriers between young men and old men, said Duerward Beale, community organizer and program manager for the Youth Outreach Adolescent Community Awareness Program or YOACAP. “It’s sort of what they do in church. Churches have a Men’s day and a women’s day every year” said Beale, who recently learned about the existence of International Men’s Day.

Beale and Johnson also noted that the media is quick to note the ills perpetrated by men but not acknowledge the good done every day by men in their communities.

International Men’s Day will be celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Malta, South Africa, the United Nations and, finally, in United States this week.
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MORE EVENTS
On November 17 Paul Golding of The New Mexico Men’s Council for Boys and Young Men will be mentioning International Men’s Day in his opening address to attendees at the BOYS EDUCATION AND LEARNING IN NEW MEXICO conference to be held in Albuquerque New Mexico, at the Sandia resort. For more information contact the NM Men’s Council.

* ‘Feminists At Men’s Day Event’, by J.D. Moore, for Kansas City Star 13 Feb 1994 (NB. a caricature of the event supplied by feminist attendees).
* Men’s Day observance well attended. Press Release (2001), Citizens for a Better trinidad and Tobago
* International Men’s day Celebrations in the U.S., (2008) Press Release by Australian Fatherhood Foundation.
* D.A. Sears- Why International Men’s Day is So Important, (2008)
* International Menâ€TMs Day celebrates fathers, role models Nov 18 (2009)